With Julio Jones shipped to Titans, a look back at the memorable receiver deals and who won them

Tennessee Titans received: Julio Jones, 2023 sixth-round pick

Atlanta Falcons received: 2022 second-round and 2023 fourth-round pick

How’d it turn out? Now for Julio. Jones got what he wanted in leaving a floundering Falcons team. The future Hall-of-Fame wide receiver has arguably been the best receiver of his generation, and is the all-time leader in receiving yards per game (95.5). The Falcons are clearly in a rebuild (whether they want to admit it or not), and an aging superstar doesn’t fit their needs. The Titans, who made the AFC Championship Game in 2019, now, with Jones and A.J. Brown, have the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL, and are aiming for a deep playoff run. It’s hard to imagine any return on the trade working out in the Falcons’ favor.

Trading a high-profile wide receiver is a risky move. While everyone hopes and dreams of a trade to work out like the Diggs move between Minnesota and Buffalo, rarely does it. More often than not, trading away an elite wide receiver is a desperate act of resignation by a general manager who knows his team, and likely he too, is toast.